News Releases from Region 1

Marriott Achieves Energy Star Designation for 12 Massachusetts Hotels

(Boston, MA – February 7, 2007) Marriott International has been awarded Energy Starlabels by EPA for demonstrating superior energy performance at 12 Massachusetts hotels. The hotels are located in Andover, Danvers, Foxboro, Lowell, Milford, Norwood, Peabody, Quincy, Stoughton and Woburn. Marriott International was also named Energy StarPartner of the Year in 2006.

“Across New England, energy savings are soaring because organizations like Marriott are making smart energy decisions that are good for the environment and good for their bottom line,” said EPA Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney. “Marriott has shown innovation, good management and a commitment to leading the way with a new generation of environmentally-preferable building management practices.”

Compared to similar buildings with average energy performance, EPA calculates that the 12 Marriott Hotels in Massachusetts used 32 percent less energy.

When a building uses less energy, it generates less pollution. EPA estimates that the 12 Energy Starlabeled Marriott hotels in Massachusetts avoided more than 17 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually - the equivalent of taking more than 1,700 cars off the road for one year.

"Energy management is an extremely important focus for our company," said Pat Maher, senior vice president, Engineering and Program Management, Marriott International, Inc. "We have more than 85 hotels that will receive the Energy Star label this year. Our goal is to certify at least eight hotels per month and we're thrilled to kick the year off with these twelve hotels in Boston. It's a major accomplishment toward our global initiative."

America’s desire for environmentally friendly buildings is growing, and superior energy efficiency – identified by the Energy Star – is a critical element of green building. EPA has awarded the prestigious Energy Star to more than 3,200 buildings for their energy efficiency. These buildings represent almost 575 million square feet, save an estimated $600 million annually in lower energy bills, and prevent almost 11 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to emissions from almost 900,000 vehicles.

The top performing buildings that earned the Energy Starin 2006 include about 320 supermarkets, 320 office buildings, and 200 K-12 schools. Almost 90 banks, courthouses, financial centers, hospitals, hotels, and - for the first time - dormitories also earned the Energy Star, the most recognized national symbol for energy efficiency.

Marriott achieved superior energy performance at its hotels through a combination of technology upgrades and management improvements. At the Quincy Marriott, these upgrades and improvements included:· Upgraded garage lighting from metal halide to fluorescent and back of the house lighting to super t-8 bulbs and matching efficient electronic ballast.· Changed out original gas fired water heaters in swimming pool and spa to more efficient plate and frame heat exchangers.· Installed energy efficient programmable thermostats in guest rooms and trained housekeepers to use the “economy” setting on checked out and unoccupied rooms.· Installed a high-speed rolling door at the loading dock.· Cleaned and rebuilt 2 chillers to improve performance and efficiency.· Modified boiler firing cycles, to reduce gas consumption without impacting guest comfort.

Marriott recently announced that nationwide it has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 70,000 tons in one year – EPA calculates this reduction as the equivalent of removing 10,000 cars from U.S. roads – and is the first hotel company to proactively join EPA’s Climate Leaders Program. Further, the company has set a five-year goal to reduce greenhouse gases by six percent per guest room by 2010.

Commercial buildings account for almost 18 percent of our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions. Building owners earn the Energy Starby scoring in the top 25 percent on EPA’s energy performance rating system, which calculates scores based on actual energy use. With interest in energy efficiency growing, Energy Staroffers easy-to-use tools and guidelines that can help building owners and managers in the U.S. realize significant energy and dollar savings.

EPA started the Energy Starprogram in 1992. Energy Staris a government-backed program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Last year alone, American consumers and businesses, with the help of Energy Star, saved $12 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from 23 million vehicles.